Method and machine for making fence fabric



Oct. 31, 1933- M. T. WHITING METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FENCE FABRIC 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1, 1931 Oct. 31, 1933.

M. T. WHITING 1,932,762 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FENCE FABRIC Filed Aug. 1, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 R: IHMQTIHIIIH k g 1 *"M Oct. 31, 1933. M, T. WHITING 1,932,762

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FENCE FABRIC Filed Aug. 1, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Iflveniar Oct. 31,' 1933. M T, wHlTlNG 1,932,762

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FENCE FABRIC Filed Aug. 1, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 as 72 5g 72 56 74 72 f4 75 42 56 52 do 72 56 66 an 0 s a o 5 82-- 7a H 56 2* a2 3 6'6 92 76 8 I152 fa T g 76 z 64 54 1r 1111111111111,vI/II/Illllzln z Mm? ii ilk? 029 /72 04/ 202 L oct. 31, 1933. T, wHlTlNG 1,932,762

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FENCE FABRIC Filed Aug. 1. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 31, 1933 entries STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD MACHINE FOR MAKING FENCE FABRIC i limited to the manufacture of such fence fabric but is generally applicable for the manufacture of flexible or semi-flexible fabrics having relatively stiff and inflexible stakes connected together by twisted flexible warp strands.

One of the objects of the present invention is an improved form of fence making machine which is adapted to operate without change of adjustment upon picketsor stakes that are irregular in cross sectional dimension andshape.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fence making machine wherein each picket or stake is secured to the binding wires independently of all other pickets and wherein each picket is bound tightly in-place so that it can not become loose, V

A further object of the invention is to provide a fence making machine wherein the pickets can be spaced very closely together and also any desired further distance apart.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fence making machine that willoperate with equal facility upon pickets of flat, triangular, circular, and other varied and irregular cross sectional shapes.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fence making machine which is adjustable in such manner that pickets of different lengths can be made up into a fabric and with any desired spacing between the pickets andalso between the binding wires.

A further object of this invention is the :provision of a fence fabric machine having means for holding the successive pickets in operative position and thebindinwires against the pickets, twister members which are advanceable toward and retractable from the picket to form the binding wires about the picket and which also are rotatable to twist the wires together, pusher "members which advance the successive pickets vinto and thence out of the engagement of the holding means, and means for applying tension to the binding wires at all times.

Another object is generally to improve mav.iines and methods of making fence fabric.

Fig. l is a side elevation of a fence making machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the left hand. of the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of that part of the machine illustrated in Fig 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of 4 Fig. 1'.

Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the bearing blocks fora twister shaft taken along line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional detail of the twister head and shaft and the reciprocating mechanism therefor taken along line 6-6 of Fig. '7 is'a longitudinal sectional elevation of one of the picket pushers and the operating mechanism therefor taken along line 77 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation of a twister head, picket and pusher and illustrating the relative positions therebetween at the start of the binding operation. I

Fig. 9 in the full line view of the parts illustrates the second position thereof, and, in the dotted line position of the parts, the third .position. I

Fig. 10 in the full line position of the parts represents the fourth step in the process, and, in the dotted line position the fifth step.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 but with the twister head advanced and represents the sixth step of the process. 1 1

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but with a complete twist put in the binding wires and.

illustrates the final step in the binding process, where but one twist is put in the wires.

Fig. 13 is a. plan detail of the brake sheaves for the wire.

Fig. 14 is a sectional detail taken along line 14--14 of Fig. 3 and illustrating one of the intermediate picket stops.

Fig. 15 is a sectional detail taken along lines 15-15 and illustrating the end picketstop.

Fig. 16 is a sectional detail taken along line 1616 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 1"? is a side elevation of a picket-engaging member or head of a pusher adapted to operate on triangular pickets.

Fig. 18 is'a plan view of a section of fence fabric made with the present invention.

Fig. 19 is a sectional detail through a triangular picket and illustrating the manner in which the binding wires conform to the surface thereof.

One of the types of fencing capable of being made by-the machine embodying the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 18 where the pickets 20 are disposed in relatively closely spaced parallel relation and are secured in such relation by a plurality of parallel spaced courses 22 of binding wire which extend at right ,anglesto the pickets, each course comprising two binding wires 24 and 26 which pass across the pickets on opposite faces thereof and are twisted together at 28 between the pickets, the successive twists preferably being oppositely wound. The spacing of the pickets may be close by giving the binding wires one complete twist, or the spacing between the pickets may be made greater by giving the binding wires any desired number of twists. The pickets may be of any suitable length within the capacity of the machine and also of any suitable width. The pickets may be irregular in width and in cross sectional configuration. Pickets of various cross sectional configurations are equally well adapted to be made into a fence fabric by the present machine, Fig. 19 illustrating an end view of a picket that is triangular in cross section and Fig. 12 illustrating a picket that is rectangular in cross section. Pickets of other shapes than those herein shown can also be used. The machine includes means which hold successive pickets in position during the twisting operation, means which advance the pickets into the holding position, and means for twisting the binding wires of the various courses and for drawing wires tightly into binding engagement with each picket. I

The holding means for the pickets are best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The holding means comprises a lower holding beam 30 and an upper holding beam 32 which are extended in parallel superposed order transversely of the frame 34 of the machine. The lower holding beam 30 is flxed' to the forward end of the frame and supports the rear ends of a plurality of bars 36 which constitute a table upon which the formed fencing is supported and which bars are loosely supported on and are adjustable in positions along the length of said lower beams. A plurality of relatively stiff yet resilient picket-holding shoes 38 are disposed above the upper face of the lower beam in position to underlie the courses of the binding wires that engage the pickets. Said shoes are adjustable lengthwise of the beam so that they can be positioned under the courses of the binding wires, the positions of which courses are also adjustable; and said shoes have depending extensions 40 which overlie the front face of the beam and are adjustably clamped in set position by clamping bolts 42, the heads of which are located in a Tslot 44 of the beam. The upper holding beam 32 has a pair of rearwardlyextended arms 46 secured at the ends thereof, but one of said arms being shown, and the rear ends of said arms are pivotally connected to upstanding posts 48 which are fixed to the frame of the machine so that said upper holding beam is free for pivotal movement in a vertical direction and is adapted to press by its weight upon the pickets disposed therebeneath. Said upper beam is provided with a plurality of similarly- 3 5 functioning, stifliy-resilient picket-holding shoes 50 which extend forwardly from the rear-face of the beam and have upstanding extensions which are adjustably secured in any desired position lengthwise of the beam by bolts 52, the heads of which are located in a T-slot 54 which extends lengthwise of the beam in the upper face thereof.

A plurality of tubular twister shafts 56 of twister members are supported by the frame in the rear of and at right angles to the holding beams and in line with the lower and upper shoes 38 and 50. Said twister shafts are rotatably supported intermediatetheir ends and also at their rear ends in bearing blocks 58 which bearing blocks are mounted upon front and rear cross beams 60 and are adjustable longitudinally of the beams and can be clamped in any adjusted position by bolts 62 the heads of which are located in T-slots 64 which extend longitudinally of said beams in the upper faces thereof. By moving the twister shafts closer together or spacing them further apart, the spacing between the courses of the binding wires can be varied.

The bearing caps 66 of said bearing blocks can be tightened down upon the twister shafts 56, by drawing down upon the nuts 63 of the studs '70, so as to hold the shafts in predetermined angular position against rotation during the adjustment of the spacing between the twister shafts. After the adjustment has been made, the bearing caps are adapted to be loosened to admit the shafts to rotate freely. The shafts are provided with sprockets 72 over all of which the upper pass of an endless chain 74 extends, see especially Fig. 4. The under pass of the chain passes under idler sprockets '76 which are journalled on studs '78 fixed to the rear cross beam 60. The upper pass of the chain also passes under other idler sprockets which are located between the twister shafts and are ro tatably supported on vertically adjustable brackets 82 that have vertically elongated slots 84 therein through which clamping bolts 86 pass that secure the brackets in any vertically adjusted position against the upper face of the rear cross beam 60. By changing the vertical positions of said sprockets 80 the slack in said chain can be taken up in any setting of the twister shafts and also a good extent of engagement between the chains and the sprockets can be had. The end twister shaft, which can remain fixed in position, is provided with a hand wheel 88 at its rear end which is adapted to be rotated and thereby through the chain '74 to rotate all of the twister shafts in the same direction into the same angular position at the same time.

Each twister shaft at its forward end is provided with a twister head 90 that is rotatable with the twister shaft and is sli'dable axiaily thereon toward and'away from the picket holding beams. Each twister head comprises a tube 92 which is slidable on the twister shaft and is secured against independent rotation thereon by pins 94 that are passed through the rear end of the tube 92 and are located in diametrically opposed slots 96 formed in the side wall of the twister shaft. The slots 96 extend axially of the twister shaft throughout the range of reciprocating movement of the twister head to admit the free passage of the binding wires therethrough at all positions of the head. A strengthening plate 97 is extended axially of and across the twister shaft between the wire slots for the purpose of re-inforcng the shaft thereat and also to separate the binding wires at the slots. The twister head is provided with diametrically opposed outstanding ribs 98 that are inclined outwardly toward the front end of the twister head and are provided with wire grooves or guide ways 100 in their outer inclined faces. Grooved wire-receiving rolls 102 are pivotally mounted in slots in the forward ends of said ribs 98 with the grooves therein in line with the wire grooves 100 in said ribs and with a portion of said rolls extended beyond the forward terminal faces of said ribs so that the binding wires of a course can be disposed in opposite directions in a straight line from the twisted or interconnected portions of the wires. The tube 92 of the twisting head is provided with diametrically opposed slots 104 which register with the slots 96 of. the twister shaft so that the pair of wires within the twister shaft can pass throughthe register slots and along the guide ways 100 of the ribs 93 and over the rolls 102.

The twister head is reciprocated on. the twister shaft by a U-shaped yoke 106 that is disposed loosely in an annular groove formed between the axially-spaced peripherally-outstanding flanges 168 of the tube 92 that are disposed at the rear of the wire slots 104. Said yoke is secured to the upper face of a rack bar 109 having gear teeth 11% on its lower face which mesh with an idler gear 112and with a driving gear 114 disposed in the rear of the idler gear. The idler gears 112 of the several rack bars are supported on a common shaft 116 which extends under and transversely of the twister shafts forwardly of the front cross beam 60. The driving gears 114 for the several racks are fixed to a common operating shaft 118 which is ,journalled in suitable bearings carried by the opposite side beams of the frame and is disposed between the shaft 116 and the front cross beam 60. The gears 112 and 114 can be moved into various positions lengthwise of the shaft that correspond with the various settings of the twister shafts. The rear ends of the racks are located in openings 120 that are elongated longitudinally of the front cross beam 66 so that the racks can be disposed in various laterally disposed operative positions corresponding to the various positions of the twister shafts. The rack bars pass under idler rollers 122 which are located at the forward ends of said openings and which, in combination with the gears 112, support the rack bars for rectilinear reciprocatory movement.

The twister heads are reciprocated simultane ously by a hand wheel 124, see Figs. 1,2 and 3,

which hand wheel is fixed to one end of the shaft 118 and thereby rotates said shaft and the driving gears 114. Said shaft 118 is normally held against rotation by a brake band 126 which en circles the periphery of a brake drum 130 that is fixed to said shaft besides said hand wheel. One end of the brake band is secured to the upper end of a vertical lever 132 while the other end 134 of the brake band is pivotally connected to the rear end of the link 136, the forward end of which is pivotally connected with the lever 132 below its connection with the brake band. A tensile spring 138 serves to rotate the lever 132 in a clockwise direction about its pivotal connection with the link 136, and thereby to wrap t e ends of the brake bandaround the brake drum and to hold the brake drum and the shaft 118 against rotation. A pedal 140 is pivotally connected with the lower end of the lever 132 and is adapted to stretch the spring and thereby release the brake band from holding engagement with the brake drum so that the shaft 118 can be rotated. I

The binding wires 24 and 26 of each course are drawn through the respective twister shafts from separate reels 142, see Fig. 1, where the wires take a plurality of passes about, so that they can not slip on, the peripheries of separate snubbing pulleys or wheels 144 and thence pass over guide pulleys 146 and enter the rear ends of the 'ster shafts. The snubbing pulleys 144 ably supported on the shaft 148 and are provided with the brake shoes 150 that are pivotally supported at their forward ends on a supporting rod 152. The brake shoes 150 are pressed into frictional engagement wit the side faces of each pair of pulleys by the. compression springs 154 which are adjustable as to compression and are located on the ends of a rod.156 that passes throughintermediate parts of the shoes. The brake shoes thus place the binding wires under substantial tension when wire is being withdrawn from the reels. The binding wires extending to the twister heads are additionally placed under tension by heavy weights 158 which are. suspended from saddles 160 that ride on the passes. of the binding wires between the snubbing pulleys and the pulleys 146 to take up any slack in the wires that may occur when the twister heads are retracted and thereby to keep the wires under tension at all times. 1

The ribs 98'ofeach twister head are spaced apart forwardly of the tube 92 and provide between them a picket-receiving passage that is open at the front end and also on both sides of the twister head. The twister heads are adapted to be in advanced position immediately in the rear of the picket holding beams and with the ribs 98 thereof vertically arranged so that the picket-receiving spaces 162 are in line. A picket is adapted to be inserted in said spaces and to be held in position by pushers which are located between the twister shafts.

The pusher members each comprise a pusher bar 164, see Figs. 3 and '7, which'bar consists of a forward section or head 166 and a rear or rack bar section 168 having the"gear teeth 170 on the lower face thereof. The forward section 166 is yieldingly connected with the rear section 168 through a compression spring 1'72 that is disposed between the confronting ends of the sections. The rearsection has a pair of'side plates 174 which are secured to the opposite faces thereof and extend'forwardly on opposite sides of the forward section 166. Said plates have longitudinally elongated slots 1'76 therein in which pins 178'carried by the section 166 are loosely extended whereby to limit the amount of independent movement of the forward section. A pair of cover plates 180 is secured to the forward section andoverlies the space above and below the spring 172 so as to cooperate with the side plates 174 in providing an enclosure for the said spring. With this arrangement, all of the pusher members can be maintained in pressure engagement with the pickets regardless of small variations in the widths thereof and while advancing all the pusher members thesam'e amount.

The forward section 166 is provided with an upstanding pin 182 which is adapted to be received loosely in a recess in the boss of a picketengaging member 184. The pusher, for a rectangular picket, has a hat upstanding picket engaging plate 186, as shown in Fig. 7, while, for a triangular picket it has aforwardly projecting horizontal shelf 188 which engages the lower face of the picket and a forwardly and upwardly inclined plate 190 which engages the rear inclinedv 7 face of the picket,- seeFig. l7. Said member 184 is loosely received on the upstanding pin 182 and when pressure is applied to the member it is adapted tobe moved rearwardly and to abut against the fixed upstanding ledge 0r abutment 192 of the bar 166 so that said ledge rather than said pin 182 receives the pressure. The forward ends of the pusherbars are located under straps 193 that are extended longitudinally upon the top face of the lo wer'holding beam 30 while the rear ends of said bars are located in slots in the forward cross beam 60 so that thespacing between the pusher bars can be changed to correspond with changes in positions of the twister heads. The pusher members are reciprocated by gears 194 which engage the rack teeth 1'70 of the pusher bars and are rotatable with and slidable on an operating shaft 196 that extends transversely across the frame of the machine. Idler gears 198 journalled on the shaft 116 also engage the pusher bars and support them for rectilinear movement. Yokes 200 are also journalled and are slidable axially on said shaft 116 and carry rolls 202 which engage the upper faces of the bars betweenthe gears 194 and 198 to hold the bars in engagement with the said gears.

Said shaft 196 is arranged to be reciprocated in opposite directions, whereby to reciprocate the pushers, by a handle 206which is fixed to one end of said shaft and is disposed on the same side of the machine as the hand wheel 124 that operates the twistershafts. Said handle 206 is provided with a spring-pressed manually-releasable pawl 208 that is adapted to ride over and engage any one of the teeth of a ratchet segment 210 that is fixed to the frame of the machine whereby to hold the pickets against rearward movement during the retraction of the twister heads.

The pickets are adapted to be successively positioned in the machine with their ends terminated in the same position and against a selected one of several stop members, the one selected being dependent upon the length of the pickets being woven into the fabric. The stop members are carried by the lower holding beam 30, and are arranged in spaced relation along the length thereof. All of said stop members, except the end one, can be swung out of the line of the picket. Each of the movable stop members includes a stop-plate 212 which is pivoted by its ear 214 to an angle plate 216 secured to the rear face of the lower holding beam below the line of the pickets, see Fig. 15. When the plate is in vertical position as shown in full line in Fig. 15, and also in Fig. 3, it is disposed to engage the end of the picket. When, however, it is swung downwardly into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 14, it is below the line of the picket. The end stop member 218 is secured by a bracket 220 to the beam 30 and is permanently in position to be engaged by the ends of the longest pickets capable of being operated upon by the machine.

The various steps in the process of binding a picket are illustrated in Figs. 8 through 12. Assuming a picket to be between the holding members 38 and 50, as shown in Fig. 1, and with the binding operation thereon completed and with the twister heads close to the rear ends of the holding members, the operation is as follows:

A second picket is inserted in the twister heads. The pusher members are then advanced to bring the forward face of the picket against the binding wires where they are spread 90 on opposite sides of the twisted section 28 thereof, or to advance the picket into the position illustrated in the full line portion of Fig. 9. The twister heads are then retracted into the dotted line position of 1 Fig. 9 thereby bending the tensioned wires sharply over the forward face of the picket and into close relation with the top and bottom faces thereof. The pusher members are then advanoed to push the picket in between and to spread apart the upper and lower holding members 38 and 50. Said members fold the wires tightly over the front face of the picket as it is advanced by the pushers and also help to press the wires against the opposite sides of the picket. The tension on the wires together withthe back:

ward pull of the weights 158 on the wires makes it necessary to force the pickets strongly against the forward twisted section of the binding wires to advance the picket and the wires, which results in the wires bending around and fitting closely and neatly against the picket. The twister heads in their retracted positions are then rotated 180 into the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 10 and are then advanced into the position illustrated in Fig. 11 where the rolls of the twister heads are close to the rear face of the picket. The twister heads are then rotated another 180 in the same direction or into the position illustrated in Fig. 12 where the binding wires are drawn sharply over the rear face of the picket thereby binding the picket tightly between the wires. The operation is complete at this point for closely woven fencing and the operation is repeated following the insertion of a new picket in the twister heads. If greater spaces between the pickets are required, the twister heads are retracted the desired distance and are then rotated the number of times required to give the number of twists that provide the desired spacing between the pickets. The pushers are then operated to advance the picket between the members 38 and a distance equivalent to the spacing between the pickets and the twister heads are advanced to the position shown in Fig. 12, whereupon the operation is complete and can be repeated following the insertion of a new picket in the twister heads.

The operation of the machine is the same on pickets of any cross-sectional shape. Fig. 19 shows the arrangement of the binding wires around a picket of tri-angular cross section.

The successive twists in a course of wires between the pickets preferably are oppositely wound or, at least, the twister heads are rotated as many times in one direction as they are in the opposite direction so that there is no permanently-retained twist in the wires back of the twister heads.

The brake sheaves 144 provide the initial tension on the wires and the weights 158 maintain the tension at all times and take up anyslack in the wires caused by the retraction of the twister heads or the adjustment of the picketposition by the pushers. Thus the wires are caused to be tightly bound together and onto each individual picket so that the picket can neither slide lengthwise nor transversely of the wires.

While the present machine is arranged for manual operation, it is apparent that it can also be arranged for automatic power operation in a manner not necessarily shown.

I claim: I

1. The method of making fence fabric which comprises inserting a picket between a pair of binding wires, advancing the picket into a holding position, holding the wire against the opposite face of the picket in said holding position, reversing the position of the wires and spreading them 180 against the rear face of the picket so that the reversed wires lie snug against the rear face, twisting the wires, and advancing the picket beyond the holding position.

2. The method of making fence fabric which comprises forming a twist in a pair of taut binding wires and spreading the wires in opposite directions into approximately a straight line behind and at right angles to the twist, inserting a picket between and against the oppositely-extended wires behind the twist, forcing the picket against the twist and the wires into conformity with the forward face of the picket, drawing the spread wires down upon and holding the wires against the opposite faces of the picket, and twisting the wires together and against the rear face of the picket.

3. The method of making fence fabric which.

comprises inserting a picket behind the twist in a pair of taut binding wires, forcing the picket against the twist and the wires into conformity with the forward face of the picket, holding the wires against the opposite faces of the, picket, crossing the wires remote from the rear face of the picket, drawing the crossed wires against the rear face of the picket, and then tt-visting the wires together; v

4. The method of making fence fabric whch comprises twisting a pair of binding wires, insertinga picket between the wires behinc the twist, crossing the wires at a small behind the picket, increasing the angle of the wires to about 180 and drawing the crossed wires against the rear face of the picket, and then twisting the wires together.

5. In a fence fabric machine having pushers which advance the successive pickets and twisters which twist binding wires together behind each picket, the combination therewith of upper and lower wire-wiping and picket-holding members which hold the picket during thetwisting operation and also hold the binding wires forcibly against opposite faces of the picket, said members being normally closer together than the thickness of a picket, and means to advance said pushers and move the pickets between and spread said members.

6. In a fence fabric machine having pushers which advance the successive pickets and twisters which twist binding wires together behind each picket, the combination therewith of upper and lower wire-wiping and picket-holding members which hold the picket during the twisting operation and also hold the binding wires forcibly against opposite faces of the picket, said holding members comprising upper and lower inherently resilient plates between which the picket is inserted and which are moved apart by the picket.

'7. In a. fence fabric machine having pushers which advance the successive pickets and twisters which twist binding wires together behind each picket, the combination therewith of upper and lower wire-wiping and picket-holding-mem-f bers which hold the picket during'the twisting operation and also hold the binding wires forcibly against opposite faces of the picket, said holding members comprising upper and lower resilient;

plates between which the picket is inserted, and a vertically movable heavy supporting beam which carries the upper holding memberof each set of binding wires, said plates being'normally closer together than the thickness of the picket and arranged to yield away from each other when the picket is inserted therebetween.

8. In a fence fabric machine having pushers which advance the successive pickets and twisters which twist binding wires together behind each picket, the combination therewith of upper and lower parallel picket-holding beams which traverse the sets of binding wires and'are movable toward and away from each other and are adapted to be moved away from each other by the insertion ofa picket therebetween and to engage opposite faces of and hold a picket inserted therebetween and during the operation of said :twisters.

9. In a fence fabric machine having pushers which advance the successive pickets and twisters which twist binding wires togetherbehind each; picket, the combination therewith of upper, and lower parallel picket-holding beams. which traverse the sets of binding-wires and are movable toward and away from each other and are adapted to engage opposite faces of and hold apicket dill! ing the operation of said twisters, saidbeams having pairs of superposed inherently resilient plates whichiwipe the binding wires over and hold; them against opposite faces of the picket. 4

it. In a fence fabric machine, the combination of picket-holding members, pushers to advance SUCCESS- "a ment of said holding-members, twisting heads located behind said holding members having guiding means on opposite sides thereof for a pair of binding wires, and means providing'a picket space between and in the rear of said guiding means and means to rotate the twister heads in opposite directions and also to reciprocate said heads toward and away from said holding members. I Y

11. In a fence fabric machine, the combination of rotatable-and reciprcable twister heads having picket-receiving passages therethrough and each having means to support a pair of binding wires on opposite sides of the picket passage, picketholding means located in advance of said twister heads, and pushrs for advancing successive pickets from said twister heads into said holding means.

12. In a fence fabric machine, the combination or" a rotatable and reciprocable twister head having a picket-receiving passage open at the forward end and also at the sides of said head, wire-' supporting rolls carried by said head on opposite sidesand at the forward side of said passage and, adapted to support a pair of binding wires, 2, picket-holding member located in advance of said head, and pushers for advancing successive pickets out of said twister heads and into and out of said holding means.

13. In a fence fabric machine, a twister rnem ber comprising a rotatable tubular shaft through which a pair of binding wires is adapted to be extended, means for rotating said shaft in opposite directions, a twister head rotatable with and re picket-receiving passage at its forward end, and ieans for supporting the binding wire-son opposite sides of said passage. 1a. In a fence fabric machine, a twister member comprisin a rotatable tubular shaft through which apair ofbinding wires is adapted to be extended, means for rotating said shaft in opposite directions, a twister head rotatable with and reciprecableaxially on said shaft and having a picket-receiving passage at its. forward end, and diametrically-opposed external inclined wire pickets into and beyond the engageciprocable axially on said shaft and having a guide ways on opposite sides of said passage, and

sage at its forward end and wire-supporting members on opposite sides of said passage, said shaft having opposed axially-elongated slots in its side wall through which the binding wirescan pass in any position of saidtwister head.

' 16.; In a fence fabric machine, a twister mern ber comprising a tubular rotatable shaft having opposed axially-elongated passages through its side wall through which binding wires can pass from the interior of said shaft, a tube strengthening wire-separating rib which extends axially of said tube across the passage therein and connects opposite portions of the side wall of the tube between said passages, and a twister head rotatable with and reciprocable axially of said shaft having opposed wire rolls at its forward end over which the binding wires pass.

17. In a fence fabric machine, a twister member comprising a'tubular rotatable shaft having opposed axially-elongated wire passages through its side wall, and a twister head carried by said shaft comprising a tube reciprocable on said shaft having means connecting said tube and shaft for conjoint rotation, said tube having axially-elongated wire passages which register with the passages of said shaft, inclined wire guide ways located at the forward end of said tube having their rear ends terminated at the passages of said tubes and having wire-supporting rolls at their forward ends, said tube having an annular external peripheral groove in the rear of the passages therein, and a yoke for reciprocating said tube located 'in said'groove.

18. In a fence fabric machine, a twister member comprising a rotatable shaft, a twister head thereon, and means for reciprocating said head comprising a rack having a yoke engaged with thereon having an annular groove, a yoke for reciprocating said head located in said groove, a rack disposed in parallel relation with said shaft and connected with said yoke, and a pinion gear,

for reciprocating said rack.

20. In a fence fabric machine, the combination of a plurality of twister members each comprising a rotatable shaft, a twister head reciprocable axially thereon, means including racks which reciprocate said heads, means for supporting said twister members in any one of several differently spaced positions, means for similarly supporting said racks, stationarily-supported means for reciprocating said racks conjointly in any adjusted position thereof, and means for conjointly rotating said shafts in any adjusted position thereof.

21. In a fence fabric machine, the combination of a plurality of twister members each including a rotatable shaft having a twister head thereon, means for positioning said shafts different distances apart for applying the binding wires different distances apart, and means for rotating all of said shafts conjointly in any of the positions thereof.

22. In a fence fabric machine, the combination of a plurality of twister members each including a rotatable shaft having a twister head thereon, means for positioning said shafts different distances apart, and means for rotating. all of said shafts conjointly in any of the positions thereof, comprising means for rotating one of said shafts, sprockets on all of said shafts, an endless chain passed about all of said sprockets, and adjustable means for taking up varying amounts of slack chain between each of said sprockets.

23. In a fence fabric machine, pusher members for advancing the picket comprising bars having gear teeth, a picket-engaging head connected with each bar, a gear meshing with said gear teeth of each bar for reciprocating said pusher member, means for oscillating said gear, and

latching means for holding said gears releasably in predetermined positions.

7 24. In a fence fabric machine, a pusher member for advancing the picket comprising a bar having gear teeth, a picket-engaging head connected with said bar, a driving gear meshing with said gear teeth for reciprocating said pusher member, and supporting means for said pusher member including an idler gear located behind said driving gear and in mesh with said gear teeth, and a roller bearing on said bar opposite said gear teeth and between said gears.

25. In a fence fabric machine, a pusher member for advancing the picket comprising a bar having gear teeth, a picket-engaging head connected with said bar, a driving gear meshing with said gear teeth for reciprocating with said pusher member, supporting means for said pusher member including an idler gear located behind said drivin gear and in mesh with said gear teeth, a bracket pivoted concentrically with said idler gear, and a roller carried by said bracket hearing on said bar opposite said gear teeth and between said gears.

26. In a fence fabric machine, a pusher member for advancing the picket comprising a reciprocating bar, and a picket-engaging member at the forward end thereof having a yieldable connection with said bar by which it is automatically self -adjusting for length for operating on irregularly dimensioned pickets without manual adjustment.

27. In a fence fabric machine, a reciprocating pusher member for advancing the picket comprising two bars disposed end to end, means loose- 1y connecting said bars for independent longitudinal movement, a spring which is interposed between said bars and which yields upon such movement, one of said bars having a picket-engaging member, and reciprocating means engag- 1 ing said other bar.

28. In a fence fabric machine, a reciprocating pusher member for advancing the picket compris ing two bars disposed end to end, means loosely connecting said bars for independent longitudi- ":7 I

nal movement, a spring which is interposed between said bars and which yields upon such movement, one of said bars having a picket-engaging member, said other bar having gear teeth, and a driving gear meshing with said teeth.

29. In a fence fabric machine, a pusher member for advancing the picket comprising a bar, means for reciprocating said bar, a picket-engaging member having a removable connection with said bar, and a rigid abutment carried by said bar behind said connection and against which said picket-engaging member can bear.

30. In a fence fabric machine, the combination of a plurality of twister heads, means for rotating and reciprocating said heads, and reciprocable pusher members located between said twister heads having means for reciprocating them conjointly by the same amount, and picket-engaging members carried by said pusher members and having yieldable connections therewith so that each can yield upon engagement with a picket and permit continued reciprocatory movement of its pusher member.

31. In a fence fabric machine, the combinamembers for reciprocatory movement in any one of several different locations.

32. In a fence fabric machine, the combination of twister heads for applying pairs of binding wires to the successive fence pickets, pusher members for advancing the successive pickets, means for reciprocating the pusher heads, means for advancing and retracting said twister heads, means for advancing and retracting said pusher members, and separate means for holding said twister heads and also said pusher members against unintentional retraction.

33. In a f nce fabric machine, the combination of twister heads for applying pairs of binding wires to the successive fence pickets, means for advancing and retracting said heads including a shaft common to all of said heads for reciprocating them, and a brake for holding said sha t stationary.

3%. In a fence fabric machine, the combination of twister heads for applying pairs of binding wires to the successive fence pickets, means for advancing and retracting said heads including a shaft common to all of said heads for reciprocating them, a normaliy-set brake on said shaft, and means for releasing said brake.

35. In a fence fabric machine, the combination of a twister head for twisting together a pair of picket-binding wires, means for reciprocating and rotating said head, and means for maintaining the binding wires constantly taut comprising snubbing wheels arranged to engage the wires without the wires slipping thereon prior to their passage to said head, and a brake on said wheel for opposing rotation thereof.

36. In a fence fabric machine, the combination of a twister head for twisting together a pair of picket-binding wires, means for reciprocating and rotating said head, and means for maintaining the binding wires. constantly taut comprising snubbing wheels arranged to engage the wires without the wires slipping thereon prior to their passage to said head, a brake on said wheels for opposing rotation thereof, and

' means which applies pressure on said wires transtaining the binding wires constantly taut comprising snubbing wheels arranged to engage the wires'without the wires slipping thereon prior to their passage to said head, a brake on said Wheels for opposing rotation thereof, and means which applies pressure on said wires transversely of the direction of movement thereof between said wheels and heads including weights which ride on said wires between said wheels and head.

38. A fence fabric machine comprising picketholding means which engages the opposite faces of successive pickets, a plurality of pushers which move successive pickets into and beyond said holding means, racks connected with said pushers for reciprocating them, an operating shaft for all of said racks having means to hold it in any selected advanced position, a plurality of twister members located beside said pushers, means interconnecting all of said twister mem bers for conjoint rotation in the same direction and to the same extent, racks connected with said twister members for reciprocating them, an operating shaft connected with said racks to reciprocate themconjointly in the same direction and to the same extent, a brake normally holding said latter shaft against rotation, means to conduct pairs of binding wires to each twister head on oppositesides of successive pickets, and means which applies a continuous tension on each wire.

39. The method of making a fence fabric which comprises twisting a pair of binding wires and spreading the wires apart approximately on opposite sides of and with respect to the twist, inserting a picket between and against the spread wires behind the twist, holding the picket in this position and drawing the wires toward each other and against the opposite faces of the picket, reversing the position of the wires behind the picket, spreading the reversed wires approximately 180 apart behind the picket to draw the wires against the rear face of the picket, and holding the wires 180 apart and again reversing the position of the wires to twist and bend them together.

40. The method as defined in claim 39 wherein the binding wires are wiped progressively against the opposite faces of the picket by advancing the picket and the wires.

MAURICE T. WHITING. 

